Democratic governor hopefuls show solidarity in Dighton forum

Two of three contenders, Gonzalez and Warren, appear at event and vow to support nominated candidate who will go against Baker

Charles Winokoor Taunton Gazette Staff Reporter @cwinokoor

DIGHTON — Two Democratic candidates who hope to challenge Gov. Charlie Baker in next year’s gubernatorial race said they’ll throw their full support behind whoever manages to win next September’s primary.

“There are a lot of similarities between all three of us (and) I pledge to support whoever wins, because he will be 100 percent better than our current governor,” said Jay Gonzalez, during closing statements at a candidates forum Tuesday night inside the auditorium of Dighton Middle School.

Gonzalez and Newton Mayor Setti Warren attended the event, which was sponsored by the Dighton Democratic Town Committee.

A third Democratic hopeful, Somerville native and businessman Bob Massie, was unable to attend.

During his own closing remarks, Warren reciprocated Gonzalez’s sentiment.

“I will encourage you to sign up for one of us,” Warren said to a crowd of about two dozen residents and nearly an equal number of campaign supporters and elected officials.

“I’m going to be working hard,” he said, for his party’s candidate in next November’s election.

Both Warren and Gonzalez said Baker hasn’t done enough to support senior citizens staying in their homes — before they have no choice other than to move into a nursing home — and that he hasn’t helped make a model to create permanent housing for the state’s homeless population.

They both also support a single-payer healthcare system in the commonwealth.

Warren, 47, and Gonzalez, 46, said they’re strongly in favor of the Fair Share Initiative ballot initiative, known as the “millionaire’s tax,” that would impose a 4-percent surcharge, or additional tax amount, on individuals earning more than $1 million a year.

Gonzalez, before he took the stage, said the more than $1 million that would be generated by 19,500 households paying the additional 4 percent would help families who currently cannot afford private child-care services.

“This is a huge priority for me,” Gonzalez said. “There are 15,000 families on a waiting list for state assistance.”

“A lot of parents,” who he said can’t afford child-care services, “have to quit working” in order to watch over their young children.

Gonzalez and Warren also were unified in their response to a question regarding renewable energy: They wholeheartedly support that goal.

Warren said since becoming mayor nearly eight years ago, the city of Newton has reduced its carbon footprint by half, which he says has helped reduce energy bills to residents.

“Massachusetts can be a world leader,” he said, if it pursues a comprehensive renewable energy program.

Gonzalez, meanwhile, said it’s good to see an array of solar panels in both Dighton and Berkley.

He also said he takes satisfaction knowing that he was part of the Patrick administration when it supported a $100 million wind-farm port facility being constructed in the waters off New Bedford.

Because of that, Gonzalez said, New Bedford will come to be recognized as “a leader” in that regard.

Gonzalez previously served as State Secretary of Administration under Gov. Deval Patrick, and before that Bill Weld.

He eventually became CEO of the Waltham health care company CeltiCare, from which he has resigned to pursue his party’s nomination.

Gonzalez said he has the experience needed to handle fiscal management and called Baker “a failed budget manager” who has shown that he lacks “core competency.”

He also said if he defeats Baker, he’ll work to block any engagement with the Department of Homeland Security Section 287(g) law, which authorizes deputization of police officers to enforce federal immigration laws.

“It’s not their job,” Gonzalez said of local law enforcement.

Agreements in the Bay State with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), for trained personnel to enforce 287(g), include Bristol County Sheriff’s Office; Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department; and Massachusetts Department of Corrections, according to the ICE website.

State Sen. Marc Pacheco, D-Taunton, thanked and congratulated all members of the town’s Democratic Committee for organizing Tuesday night’s event.

Pacheco said he’s personally acquainted and impressed with Gonzalez, Warren and Massie, the latter of whom he considers to be a “very thoughtful” individual.

“It’s difficult for me to endorse anyone yet, but I would push them a little harder to campaign in this area,” he said.

State Rep. Patricia Haddad initially accepted an invitation to attend but wasn’t able to show up, according to Dighton Democratic Party Committee chairman Tim Rhines, who said she was taking part in a fundraiser to combat “dark money” political contributions.

In accordance with the rules of the forum, Gonzalez and Warren were not allowed to challenge one another or engage in anything resembling a political debate.

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